Page 105 of Stolen By the Alpha Hunter
A door clangs down the hall and I jerk my head toward it, light filtering between the bars of my rudimentary cell.Footsteps come toward me, but I can’t make out a scent, having to use my sight to identify the newcomer.
Gideon.
He’s flanked by Abel, who stands with his hands in his pockets. He’s got something in one of those pockets—a weapon, maybe. I don’t know if they mean to beat me or kill me, but I figure they wouldn’t have me tied up if they were going to kill me.
I’d already be bait if I was due for execution…and I’m useful.
Even tied up, I’m useful, because I’ll do anything for Peaches.
“Let me go,” I say, my voice hoarse. The collar presses on my windpipe, making it hard to talk or even to breathe. “I’ll do whatever you say.”
“Now, why would I believe that when I’ve just learned you betrayed me?” Gideon says. “And I came straight from talking to your female; she doesn’t seem remotely interested in working with us.”
I snarl and tug on the chains. “Don’t hurt her,” I warn.
“You’re in no position to make demands,” Gideon says.
He squats next to me, close enough that I should be able to slash at his throat. I can’t move from the floor though, completely immobilized by the chains and the drugs.
“What did you give me?” I ask.
“Mild sedative,” Abel says from behind him. “We didn’t want you kicking up a ruckus when you woke.”
“I’m a recovering addict,” I say. “If you give me anything, it could kill me—then I can’t keep making babies for your army.”
“Well, look at that,” Gideon says. “He’s catchin’ on!”
He reaches out to pat me on the cheek, but I react too slow to snap at him before he backs off. Gideon laughs at how sluggish I am, how desperate to get back to Peaches.
He loves toying with people…loves hurting us.
I have to get my mate and our child out of here.
I get frantic for a moment, scrambling against the chains and letting out an inhuman roar. Gideon and Abel laugh together.
“Don’t worry your little head about it,” Abel says. “I’ll raise your kid right.”
Gideon walks back over to Abel and takes whatever he’s been holding. I can’t figure out what it is until he turns back around, unzipping a black case and revealing shiny glass inside.
It’s a kit—syringe, vial, dropper.
I freeze.
“Figured that, as a junkie, you would like getting a little something in your system,” Gideon says, coming back toward me at a slow, leisurely pace. “Take the edge off, ya know?”
I shift away in vain, my eyes widening. “Hey…don’t,” I say. “I was serious. It could kill me.”
“Why would I give a damn?” Gideon says. “Fact is, I just made a deal that’s going to bring more people to our little paradise—alphas, omegas, betas. Why would I waste time and resources on you when I could get my heir ten times over with whoever will fuck my disobedient daughter?”
I pull at the chains, my muscles spasming. I can’t handle this; I’ll break out of the brig, burn this whole place until it’s nothing more than cinders on the sea, coast across the waves with Peaches and leave it all behind. And I’ll kill Gideon and Abel slowly and painfully, making sure they…
My right wrist burns, goes taut.
The chain snaps.
I swipe at Gideon and catch him across the jaw, red blood splashing on the floor. He snarls and lunges forward to pin me to the ground, Abel grabbing my free arm and wrestling me down. I realize there’s someone else in the room only when a third man holds my legs, immobilizing me completely.
Gideon keeps his knee on my shoulder as he puts the syringe into the vial, drawing out a shimmering fluid. I snarl and pleadfor him not to, torn between fighting them off and begging for my life.
